Beckett, whose trip starts today, will meet with her Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh before flying to Mumbai and Bangalore.

Britain unveiled a landmark report on the economic implications of climate change earlier this week, and wants a global deal to cut carbon emissions within two years -- with India, China and the United States in the firing line.

India and China signed and ratified the Kyoto Protocol on climate change but are not included in targeted emissions cuts.

The focus of Beckett's visit will be a follow-up of talks last month in London between Singh and British Prime Minister Tony Blair to enhance cooperation between the two countries on issues like terrorism and the environment.

"India is an important partner for the UK as we both work together to address the global challenges that face the world today," Beckett said in a pre-visit statement.

"Issues such as counter-terrorism and climate change can only be addressed successfully if all the key international players work together," she added.

In Delhi she said she aimed to discuss "cooperation on dealing with global challenges" with the Indian prime minister, the new foreign minister and other senior members of government.

"I will give a public address on how we can work together to tackle the impact of climate change."

Beckett will also address the growing economic ties between India and its former colonial ruler during the trip.

She added: "Our bilateral relationship is underpinned by solid economic and people-to-people links. Cumulatively the UK is the third largest investor in India and India leapt last year from being the eighth to the third largest investor in the UK.

"Over one million people travel between the two countries every year, and our large British Indian community is one of the most successful in the UK. As our two prime ministers agreed, the relationship has never been better.